Collapsible bulk fluid container



g- 1954 R. D. MERRILL ETAL 3,143,249

COLLAPSIBLE BULK FLUID CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8, 1962 m had/ .9. /fezmi/ZUnited States Patent 3,143,249 COLLAPSIBLE BULK FLUTE CONTAENER Reginaldl). Merrill and Edward C. Hauser, Chicago, 111., assigors to StoneContainer Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois FiledJan. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,743 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-165) This inventionrelates generally to packages or containers and more particularly,relates to an improved disposable and collapsible container for storageand shipment of fluids.

Heretofore, prior container structures of the general character withwhich the herein invention is concerned, i.e., those using flexible,collapsible bags of suitable material such as plastic, for bulk fluidstorage and dispensing, have been less than satisfactory in manyimportant respects. Such containers generally have recognized advantageswhich derive from the use of paperboard materials for the outer cartonand some manner of liner to be associated with the flexible bag andwhich attempt to permit shipping and storage of the containers in asomewhat collapsed and flattened condition. However, prior structures ofthis type have been less economical to manufacture and use consideringtheir disposable character and intended substitution thereof for bulkfluid metal containers, for instance, used repeatedly after cleansingthereof. One reason for this has been the rather involved andcomplicated nature of the structures for the containers whichnecessitated using more expensive and involved equipment formanufacturing same. Prior structures also have required holding the bagand adjusting the position thereof as it was being filled. This wastimeconsuming and expensive, thereby sacrificing some advantage derivedfrom use of the more economical materials.

A very significant disadvantage of prior container structures of thisgeneral character has been encountered in the proper filling of theplastic bag. For instance, one use for such prior containers has beenfor storage and shipment of milk or a like liquid product which foamsreadily when agitated, such as, when being introduced into the plasticbag. As a result of such foaming of the liquid, difiiculties areencountered in obtaining a proper measured quantity in the bag, inclosing the outer carton in which the filled bag is placed, etc. Aprincipal reason for such foaming is believed to be the presence ofsufficient quantities of air in the bag prior to filling thereof withliquid. The air entrapped in the bag may be in relatively small amounts,but suflicient to cause the undesirable foaming of the liquid. Anotherdisadvantage has been the inability to obtain a very fiat bag in thecollapsed condition thereof or prior to filling of the bag. Also, priorstructures did not make attempt to assure unfolding and opening of thebag in the same manner during filling thereof so that it can be made toconform to the interior shape of the carton.

Accordingly, a major object of the invention is to provide a containerof the character described for storage and dispensing of fluid materialswhich is characterized by a construction that substantially eliminatesthe foregoing disadvantages, as well as others.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character described which includes a liner having the flexible bagsupported thereon so that the bag may be filled with fluid while theliner is arranged on the interior of the exterior carton withoutrequiring the bag to be held and adjusted in position during fillingthereof by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character described in which the flexible 3,143,249 Patented Aug.4., 1964 bag is secured on the liner in a predetermined folded conditionso that during filling of the bag in an outer carton, like bags willunfold in substantially the identical manner to conform to the shape ofthe outer carton.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described which includes a three-sided corrugated liner ofintegral construction having a flexible, plastic bag adhesively securedto said sides, in folded, flat condition, said liner adapted to beshipped and stored in flat condition and adapted to be folded into aU-shaped configuration for insertion into an outer carton for fillingthe bag without interfering With the flattened condition of the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character described in which said bag may be formed as a simpletubular member or sleeve having conjoined edges and a spout for fillingthe bag, said bag and liner cooperating to permit the bag to becollapsed and folded completely flat with the liner so that uponliquid-filling the bag through said spout, foaming of the liquid isavoided substantially entirely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure ofthe character described in which the outer carton has novel meanspermitting access to a spout on the flexible bag for dispensing thefluid contents thereof without opening the outer carton.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bulk fluid container ofthe character described which is very economical to manufacture, storageand ship; in which the flexible bag has novel flap formations formedduring filling thereof adapted to be folded fiat upon the upper end ofthe bag; and which remains strong and rigid from the time the bag isfilled.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparentfrom the ensuing disclosure in which a preferred embodiment has beendescribed in detail in the specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. It is contemplated that minor variations in thestructural features thereof may occur to the skilled artisan withoutdeparting from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the container embodying the inventionshowing the liner and bag secured thereto, the bag being in foldedcondition and the liner expanded to show details thereof.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through said container along the line22 of FIG. 1 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the liner and bag attachedthereto being inserted into an outer carton prior to filling of the bag.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the liner and bag inserted intothe outer carton of FIG. 3 and the bag expanded after filling thereofwith a liquid.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1, the reference character 29designates generally the container or package embodying the invention.Said container 20 is comprised of a liner or support structure 22 forthe plastic bag 24.

Liner 22 is formed of three sides or panels 26, 23 and 30 of a suitablepaper stock such as corrugated paperboard. The panels are rectangular inconfiguration and preferably, are formed from a single rectangular sheetof corrugated paperboard with panels 26 and 30 arranged on oppositesides of the center panel 28. Each of the panels 26 and 30 is hingedlyconnected to a side edge 32 of panel 28 along a familiar fold line suchthat sides 26 and 30 comprise flaps on opposite sides of the centerpanel 28. As illustrated, panels 26 and 30 are substantially identicalin size and slightly shorter in length than the center panel 28;however, dimensions of the liner panels may vary in 3 accordance withrequirements of the outer carton in which the liner and bag are to beinstalled.

The bag 24 preferably comprises a simple polyethylene tube, althoughother flexible, plastic sheet material may be used for making the same.The bag 24 may be cut to size from a continuous length of tubular stockwound flat on a reel, for instance, and heat-sealed along adjacent freeedges thereof as indicated at 33 to form the closed bag. The bag 24 alsomay be formed as a double-ply structure or in other ways.

As seen in FIG. 2, the flattened bag 24 has a pair of identical sides 34and 34' juxtaposed one the other so that the body of the bag issubstantially flattened in collapsed condition thereof. Little, if anyair is entrapped in the bag in the collapsed condition thereof. It willbe appreciated that forming the bag 24 as a simple tubular structureenables the bag to be flattened out completely merely by juxtapositionof sides 34 and 34' as shown. Thus, all air is expelled from the bag andthe bag remains so evacuated at all times prior to filling thereof,thereby substantially eliminating foaming of the liquid when the bag isfilled.

The plastic bag 24 is secured to one surface 35 of the liner 22 bysuitable adhesive 36 shown in FIG. 2. As seen in this FIGURE, a rearwall 34 of the bag is secured by adhesive 36 to the center panel 23 andadjacent portions of the side panels 26 and 3%, the adhesive beingapplied adjacent the top edge 40 and bottom edge 42 of the panels, andextending the entire length of the bag. The adhesive may be spottedintermittently or applied across only a portion of the entire width orhorizontal dimension of the bag. The horizontal dimension of the bag issubstantially less than the combined length of the hingedly connectedpanels 26, 28 and 3t), albeit longer than panel 28. The length orvertical dimension of the bag in collapsed condition is greater than thewidth of the liner so that the longitudinally extending portions 44(seen in FIG. 1) can be folded over at 45 adjacent the top and bottomedges respectively of the liner and away from the surface 35, as seen inFIG. 2. The fold lines 45 are inwardly spaced from the heat-sealed edges33 of the flat bag 24. The bag has portions 46 which extend partiallyacross the panels 26 and 30 respectively.

Folded portion 44 adjacent the upper edge 49 of panel 28 has a spout 48secured thereon which may comprise a nipple of suitable plastic materialhaving an annular flange d at one end thereof which is adhesivelysecured or heatsealed to the bag with the nipple in communication withthe interior of the bag through a suitable opening in said portion 44.The spout 48 serves for filling the bag and dispensing fluid therefrom.

For purposes of shipment and storage of the container 20, the bag 24 isfolded completely flat along the lines 45 and edges 33. Preferably, theliner and attached bag are to be shipped in a flat, spread conditionwith portions 44 of the bag folded as shown in FIG. 1. Panels 26 and 3dare folded to the U-shaped formation of FIG. 2 immediately prior tobeing inserted in the outer carton. For shipment and storage, the panels26 and 30 also can be pivoted inwardly to overlie the panel 28.Depending upon the size of panels 26 and 30, one of said side panels 26and 39 may also overlie the other in said folded condition of the linerwith the bag therebetween. The portions 46 of the bag will overlie themedial body portion of flattened bag 24 secured to the panel 23 andsubtend the end panels 26 and 35) respectively of the liner 22. Theliner 22 with bag 24 attached thereto will be substantially flat whenthus folded. After the bag 24 is attached to liner 22, it remains flatat all times prior to filling of the same.

Referring'to FIG. 3, the container 24) is illustrated in openedcondition, but prior to filling of the bag 28. The liner 22 has beenopened by pivoting the end panels 26 and 30 one relative to the other toform the liner into a substantially U-shaped formation in which the endpanels 26 and'30 are at right angles to the center panel 28. The

U-shaped liner 22 is shown being inserted, bottom edge 42 first, into anouter carton 52 of rectangular crosssectional dimension corresponding tocross-sectional dimension of the U-shaped liner 22. Each of panels 26,28 and 3% are frictionally engaged with a side Wall 54 of the carton.The side wall es of the carton is engaged by the end edges 58 of panels26 and 3%}. It may be noted that the bag 24 remains completely flatduring installation of the liner 22 in the carton 52. Carton 52preferably is a familiar corrugated or cardboard structure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the liner and bag attached thereto have beeninserted completely in the carton 52 and the bag filled with fluid. Thefilling operation is accomplished by connecting the discharge nozzle ofa suitable fluid dispensing machine (not shown) to the spout 48. The bag24 remains flat at this time supported on the liner. As fluid isintroduced into the bag, the bag 24 commences to expand at its lower endand occupies the space defined by panels 26, 28 and 5% of the liner andwall 56 of the carton. When the desired quantity of fluid has beenintroduced to fill the bag, the tubular bag will assume a rectangularcross-sectional configuration corresponding to the crosssectionalconfiguration of liner 22 and wall 56 so that the flap formations 69 canbe formed at the upper end 59 of the bag. Notably, the operator does nothave to hold the bag or adjust the position thereof during the fillingprocess because the bag is supported on the liner.

The flaps 6d are triangular in configuration and flat, and result fromthe material of the bag 24 at upper end 59 thereof after the bag isfilled. The triangular flaps 60 can then be folded flat upon upper end52 of the bag to the position shown in broken outline at 62. Thispermits the closure flaps 64 of the carton also to be moved to overliesaid end 59 for closing the carton.

The completely flattened condition of the upper end 59 of the bagillustrates the absence of foam in the bag when the bag is filled. Anyslight amount of foam might well be entrapped on the interior of flaps60 Without detrimental efiect.

For transporting the container 20 in filled condition, a suitable plugor closure for spout 48 is readily provided. The very economicalstructure of the liner 22 and bag 24 encourages the use of the containerin connection with many fluid products heretofore shipped and stored inmetal containers, for instance, which are not disposable. High speedproduction techniques can be used to make the container 20 especiallysince the manner of attaching the bag 24 to the liner 22 is so simple.In practical embodiments, the container 29 was found to be very sturdyand durable and absolutely leak-proof.

Referring to FIG. 4, one of the flaps 64 has been illustrated asprovided with a knock-out flap shown at 66 preferably die-cut thereinto.In the normal carton 52, these closure flaps will be made sufficientlynarrow so that upon closing the carton, the flap 66 will overlie thespout 48. The flap 66 is connected to the flap 64 along the score orperforated lines d8 which will permit the flap 66 to be torn free andspout 48 withdrawn through the resulting opening. The disc 5! is largerin diameter than the resulting opening. Thus, the carton can be invertedto dispense the fluid contents of bag 24 without opening flaps 64' It isbelieved that the invention has been described in sufficient detail toenable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. Theinvention has been pointed out in the claims hereto appended in languageintended to be liberally construed commensurate with the scope of theinvention.

What it is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A package for storing and dispensing fluid and the like comprising, aflexible, plastic bag of tubular formation having a filling anddispensing spout at one end thereof, a liner comprised of three panelsarranged end to end, said bag being adhesively secured to a portion ofeach of said panels, said bag being collapsed to a flattened conditionand having a pair of elongated folded portions extending along the upperand lower longitudinal edges of the liner and overlying at least aportion of all of the panels, said spout being on the upper foldedportion and having its axis transverse thereto, a pair of said panelsbeing movable to a position transverse to the remaining panel, saidliner and bag attached thereto being arranged to be inserted into anouter carton with the bag remaining in flattened condition whereby fluidcan be introduced through said spout to expand the bag and fill the samefor the storage and later dispensing of said fluid through said spout.

2. A package for fluid and the like comprising, a flexible, tubularplastic bag having a filling and dispensing spout at one end thereof, apaperboard liner having a rectmgular center panel and a pair ofrectangular side panels hingedly connected along a pair of opposite sideedges of said center panel, said bag being adhesively secured to aportion of each of said panels in flattened condition, said flattenedbag being longer than the width of the panels and having elongatedfolded portions adjacent the upper and lower edges of said center paneland overlying said side panels, said spout being on the upper foldedportion and having its axis transverse thereto, said side panels beingfoldable to a position transverse to said center panel for insertioninto an outer carton with said bag remaining flattened until fluid isinserted through said spout whereby the bag will be expanded.

3. A package for fluid and the like comprising, a flexible, tubularplastic bag having a filling and dispensing spout at one end thereof, apaperboard liner having a rectangular center panel and a pair ofrectangular side panels hingedly connected along a pair of opposite sideedges of said center panel, said bag being adhesively secured to aportion of each of said panels in flattened cordition, said flattenedbag being longer than the width of the panels and having elongatedfolded portions adjacent the upper and lower edges of said center paneland overlying a portion of said side panels, said spout being on theupper folded portion and having its axis transverse thereto, said sidepanels being foldable to a position transverse to said center panel forinsertion into an outer carton with said bag remaining flattened untilfluid is inserted through said spout whereby the bag will be expanded,said bag having substantially triangular hollow flap formations at saidend thereof when the bag is filled.

4. A package for fluid or the like comprising, a tubular, flexibleplastic bag having a filling and dispensing spout at the upper endthereof, a rectangular liner for supporting the bag both in filled andempty condition thereof, said liner comprising, a three-sided paperboardmember having a center panel and a pair of side panels hingedlyconnected along opposite side edges of said center panel, said baghaving a wall thereof adhesively secured to a portion of said panels andcollapsed and having a pair of elongated folded portions adjacent theupper and lower edges of the center panel and overlying at least aportion of all of the panels whereby the bag is compietely flattened onthe liner, said spout being on the upper folded portion and having itsaxis transverse thereto, said side panels being movable to a positionforming the liner into a substantially U-shaped formation for insertioninto an outer carton with the bag remaining flattened until fluid isinserted through said spout whereby said bag will expand.

5. A package as described in claim 4 in which said bag has a pair ofhollow, triangular flaps adapted to be folded flat upon the upper end ofthe bag when filled, said flaps arranged facing one the other and spacedapart upon said upper end.

6. A disposable bulk fluid container comprising, an outer carton ofrectangular cross-section, a liner member having a center panel and apair of side panels hingedly connected along opposite side edges of thecenter panel, said liner member being substantially U-shaped inconfiguration, a flexible tubular plastic bag, portions of said bagbeing adhesively secured in flattened condition to each of said panels,said bag thereby taking on the configuration of said liner, said baghaving upper and lower folded portions overlying at least a portion ofall of the panels, a filling and pouring spout secured to the upper ofsaid folded portions with the axis of the spout perpendicular thereto,said liner being within said carton with said panels engaging againstthree sides of the carton, said folded portions providing a pair oftriangular hollow flap formations at the upper end of the bag when saidbag is filled through said spout, said flaps being foldable upon theupper end of the bag in a flat condition and said carton having closuremeans at the upper end thereof for closing the carton upon saidflattened flap formations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,339,156 Davis Jan. 11, 1944 3,029,008 Membrino Apr. 10, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS 610,031 Canada Dec. 6, 1960

1. A PACKAGE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING FLUID AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, A FLEXIBLE, PLASTIC BAG OF TUBULAR FORMATION HAVING A FILLING AND DISPENSING SPOUT AT ONE END THEREOF, A LINER COMPRISED OF THREE PANELS ARRANGED END TO END, SAID BAG BEING ADHESIVELY SECURED TO A PORTION OF EACH OF SAID PANELS, SAID BAG BEING COLLAPSED TO A FLATTENED CONDITION AND HAVING A PAIR OF ELONGATED FOLDED PORTIONS EXTENDING ALONG THE UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE LINER AND OVERLYING AT LEAST A PORTION OF ALL OF THE PANELS, SAID SPOUT BEING ON THE UPPER FOLDED PORTION AND HAVING ITS AXIS TRANSVERSE THERETO, A PAIR OF SAID PANELS BEING MOVABLE TO A POSITION TRANSVERSE TO THE REMAINING PANEL, SAID LINER AND BAG ATTACHED THERETO BEING ARRANGED TO BE INSERTED INTO AN OUTER CARTON WITH THE BAG REMAINING IN FLATTENED CONDITION WHEREBY FLUID CAN BE INTRODUCED THROUGH SAID SPOUT TO EXPAND THE BAG AND FILL THE SAME FOR THE STORAGE AND LATER DISPENSING OF SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID SPOUT. 